‘Not Receiving Death Threats’: Cop Who Saved Muslim Boy From Mob

A BBC report cited police officials as saying that Gagandeep Singh received death threats, but Singh denies this.

Days after a video of a police inspector saving a Muslim boy from the wrath of a mob at a temple in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar went viral, the BBC reported on Wednesday, 30 May, that the officer has been receiving death threats.

However, speaking to The Quint, the officer in question – Gagandeep Singh – denied getting any death threats.

There’s no such thing. In fact, I got to know about this (that I have been receiving death threats) from other people. I have been enjoying my holiday. There is no question of me receiving death threats.

Gagadeep Singh to The Quint

Gagandeep, oblivious of any such threats, is currently at home and he told The Quint that he will be rejoining service on 2 June.

In its report, BBC cites police officials working with him as saying that he has received these threats and has been sent on leave.

The report has triggered reactions from eminent personalities like former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, saying the officer is under threat from the communal forces in the state.

Incident in Question

The incident in question occurred when a Muslim boy met a Hindu girl in a temple in Girija village. Seeing them together in a temple, a group of thugs surrounded them. In the video that went viral on 25 May, sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh is shown holding the boy close to him, shielding him from the violent mob attempting to assault him.

Soon after the incident, a BJP MLA Rajkumar Thukral said if the Ramnagar police did not “wake up” to understand “anti-Hindu” sentiments in terms of this incident and other similar ones, then the Hindu Sena would be forced to come out and fight those threatening the basis of Hindu culture. But no threats were directed at Singh.

Sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh says he doesn’t know what the basis of these rumours about death threats to him is, and that he had only done what any police officer would do.